Pressure-fluid electromagnetic valves

ABSTRACT

This electromagnetic valve comprising a monitored valve member adapted to control the passage of a fluid under pressure from a supply duct to at least one outlet or load duct comprises in a shielding case a core surrounded by a coil winding and formed with an axial monitoring passage adapted in the energised condition of said winding to be closed by a rigid valve member responsive to the magnetic pull, said passage being connected to a variable-volume chamber of which one wall consists of one portion of a flexible valve member adapted to close an outlet orifice, said chamber being on the other hand connected to said fluid pressure supply duct.

0 United States ?atent 1191 1111 3,738,386 Quemerais [4 June 12, 1973 [54] PRESSURE-FLUID ELECTROMAGNETIC 3,138,148 6/1965 Eaton l37/625.64 X VALVES 3,395,617 8/1968 Kaptur 137/625.64 x 3,434,690 3/1969 Troncale 251/46 X [75] Inventor: Philippe Quemerais, Billancourt,

France Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek [73] Assignee: Regie Nationale Des Usines Renault, Attorney-Richard K. Stevens, Dav1dson C. M1ller,

Billancourt, France Ellsworth H. Mosher et al. 22 Filed: Mar. 31, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT This electromagnetic valve comprising a monitored [2!] Appl' 239882 valve member adapted to control the passage of a fluid under pressure from a supply duct to at least one outlet [30] Foreign Application Priority Data or load duct comprises in a shielding case a core sur- Apr. 9, 1971 France 7112775 rounded y a Coil Winding and formed with an axial monitoring passage adapted in the energised condition [52] U.S. Cl 137/625.64, 251/43, 251/46 of Said Winding to b Closed by a rigid valve member re- 51 1m. 01. F1611 11/02, Fl6k 31/40 sponsive to the magnetic pull, said passa e being con- [58] Field of Search 137/625.64; 251/43, nected to a variable-volume chamber of which one wall 251/46 consists of one portion of a flexible valve member adapted to close an outlet orifice, said chamber being [56] Ref r Cit d on the other hand connected to said fluid pressure sup- UNITED STATES PATENTS P duct- 3,016,065 1/1962 Stampfli 137/625.64 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PRESSURE-FLUID ELECTROMAGNETIC VALVES The present invention relates in general to electromagnetic valves and has specific reference to a monitored electromagnet valve adapted to control the passage of a fluid under pressure.

Controlling the passage of fluids under pressure by means of an electromagnetic valve, when the hydraulic power is relatively high, requires largesized devices consuming large amounts of current, thus increasing the sophistication of the electronic supply circuits.

To avoid this inconvenience the use of monitored electromagnetic valves comprising two or more ways has already been proposed. These electromagnetic valves comprise a sliding member or spool receiving on one face a counter pressure adapted to seat this sliding member in order to close the fluid flow passage. However, this type of electromagnetic valve is objectionable in that this sliding member must be machined very accurately since it must be fitted with very close tolerances in bores permitting their frictionless movements. Spring means must also be provided for returning the sliding member and since the masses thus controlled are relatively heavy, the response time is rather long.

It is the essential object of this invention to provide an electromagnetic valve comprising a monitored ballvalve and adapted to control the passage of a fluid under pressure from an inlet duct to at least one outlet duct, this electromagnetic valve comprising, enclosed in a shielding case, a core surrounded by a coil winding and formed with an axial passage adapted in the energised condition of said coil winding to be closed by a rigid valve member responsive to the magnetic pull, this electromagnetic valve being characterised in that the axial passage is connected to a chamber having a variable volume by having one of its walls made of a valve member of flexible material adapted to obturate a fluid flow orifice, said variable-volume chamber being connected to the fluid pressure supply duct.

According to a first form of embodiment of this electromagnetic valve the flexible valve member has formed therethrough an axial duct interconnecting the fluid inlet duct and the variable-volume chamber. The rigid valve member responsive to the magnetic attraction comprises two balls, one ball being of relatively small diameter for closing the monitoring passage due to the pressure exerted by the other ball consisting of magnetic material. The flexible valve member is adapted on the other hand to seal the orifice interconnecting said fluid inlet duct and an outlet duct; in this case, the electromagnetic valve is a two-way valve.

According to a second form of embodiment of the invention the flexible valve member carries a solid or hollow rod having secured to its outer end a ball valve adapted to be seatedagainst the edge of a communication orifice provided between the inlet duct and an outlet duct when the valve member is in its open position; in this case, the electromagnetic valve is a three-way one.

It may be noted that the communication between the variable-volume chamber and the inlet duct may also take place through an external passage or alternatively through a. hollow rod disposed through said flexible valve member and having an orifice communicating with the fluid inlet duct.

Other features and advantages of this invention will appear as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is an axial section showing a two-way electromagnetic valve according to this invention, shown in its closed position;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing a three-way valve in one of its two positions, and

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified form of embodiment of the three-way valve.

The electromagnetic valve shown in FIG. 1 comprises a shielding case 1 and a core 2 surrounded by a coil winding 3. The core 2 comprises a central passage 4 of which the orifice 5 constitutes the seat of a small ball valve 6 co-acting with a larger ball valve 7 of magnetic material. These two balls are movable in a chamber 8 formed between the adjacent end of core 2 and the end cap 9 secured to the core. This chamber comprises peripheral apertures 10 for discharging the fluid. A flexible valve member 11 of plastic or rubber material has its base or flange 12 clamped along its peripheral edge between the shoulders 13 and 14 of a wall and the curved edges 15 and 16 of case 1. This flexible valve member 11 comprises a central passage 17 in axial alignment with the passage 4 of core 2 and opens into a chamber 30; this passage 17 is reinforced in order to avoid any undesired distortion of its central portion and more particularly to keep its end orifice 31 duly open. A pressure fluid supply duct 18 opens into the outlet duct 19 across an orifice 20 adapted to be closed by the flexible valve member 11.

This electromagnetic valve operates in two steps The closed condition of the valve as illustrated in FIG. 1 is obtained by energising the coil winding 3. The major ball valve 7 is thus attracted towards the core 2 and seats the minor ball valve 6 on its orifice 5. From the supply duct 18 the fluid under pressure penetrates into the passage 17, flows through chamber 16 and passage 4, but cannot penetrate into chamber 8; under these conditions, a counter-pressure is created, notably in chamber 30, and acts against the base 12 of the flexible valve member of which the resulting distortion causes this base to engage and block the orifice 20.

This valve is opened by deenergising the winding 3. Thus, the orifice 5 is uncovered by the minor ball 6 and the fluid under pressure drives the major ball 7 away, together with the minor ball 6, towardsthe bottom of chamber 8 and the fluid flows through the peripheral orifices 10 thus permitting the return of fluid to a colsure can flow freely from duct 18 to duct 19 in the di-- rection of the arrows f and f,.

In FIG. 2 the component elements already found in the two-way valve of FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, but in the case of a three-way valve.

The fluid under pressure is supplied via duct 22 open ing into chamber 23. The flexible valve member has an outer extension in the form of a rigid rod 24 carrying at its free or outer end a ball 25 adapted to close the orifice 26 of supply duct 22. Another duct 28 interconnects the duct 22 and chamber 30. It may be noted that in the specific example illustrated the volume of chamber 30 has been increased by the interposition of a relatively thick gasket 29 between the edges and 16 of shielding case 1, on the one hand, and the peripheral edge of flange 12, on the other hand.

In the electromagnetic valve illustrated in FIG. 3 the rod 24 of flexible valve member 11, which may be solid or hollow, is replaced by a hollow rod 24' extending through the flexible valve member 11 so as to open into the duct 22. This rod comprises a lateral orifice 32 providing a direct communication between said duct 22 and chamber 30, thus permitting of dispensing with the duct 28 of FIG. 2.

This three-way electromagnetic valve operates as follows, also in two steps During the first step corresponding to the energising of coil winding 3 and as a consequence of the closing of orifice 5 by the minor ball 6, as described hereinabove, the flexible valve 1 l responsive to the fluid pressure prevailing in chamber 30 closes the orifice 20. The pressure fluid flowing from duct 22 in the direction of the arrow f penetrates into chamber 23 via orifice 26 and into duct 27 in the direction of the arrow f During the second step corresponding to the denergisation of coil winding 3 and therefore to the opening of orifice 5, the fluid previously compressed in duct 4 flows freely through the peripheral orifices 10, the pressure in chamber 30 decreases and then the base 12 of flexible valve member 11 is moved to its recessed position shown in dash lines, whereby the orifice is opened while orifice 26 is stopped by the ball carried along during the backward movement of this valve member. The fluid under pressure cannot flow into duct 27 but flows freely into duct 19 in the direction of the arrow f As will be readily understood from the foregoing description given by way of illustration only the electromagnetic valves according to this invention are particularly advantageous on account of their simple construction, their frictionless operation involving a simple distortion of a flexible valve member, and also in that their operation requires only the use of low current values.

Furthermore, they are both efficient and economical.

What is claimed as new is l. Electromagnetic valve with monitored valve member, adapted to control the flow of a fluid under pressure from a supply duct to at least one outlet duct, which comprises inside a shielding case a core surrounded by a coil winding, a monitoring passage formed through said core and adapted to be closed in the energised condition of said coil winding by a rigid valve member responsive to the magnetic pull, this electromagnetic valve being characterised in that the aforesaid monitoring core passage is connected to a variable-volume chamber of which one wall consists of a flexible valve member adapted to seal a fluid flow orifice, said variable-volume chamber being connected to said pressure fluid supply duct. 2. Electromagnetic valve according to claim 1, characterised in that said flexible valve member has formed therethrough an axial passage for connecting said supply duct to said variable-volume chamber.

3. Electromagnetic valve according to claim 1, characterised in that said rigid valve member comprises two ball valves, that is, a ball of relatively small diameter and another ball valve of relatively large diameter, the minor ball being adapted to stop the monitoring passage of said core under the thrust of said major ball, said major ball consisting of magnetic material.

4. Electromagnetic valve according to claim 1, characterised in that said flexible valve member carries a solid or hollow rod supporting in turn at its outer end a ball adapted to stop the orifice communicating said supply duct to an outlet duct when said flexible valve member is in its open position.

5. Electromagnetic valve according to claim 4, characterised in that said rod is solid and that a duct disposed externally of the valve structure connects said variable-volume chamber to said supply duct.

6. Electromagnetic valve according to claim 4, characterised in that said rod is hollow, extends through said flexible valve member and comprises a lateral orifice for connecting the supply duct to said variablevolume chamber. 

1. Electromagnetic valve with monitored valve member, adapted to control the flow of a fluid under pressure from a supply duct to at least one outlet duct, which comprises inside a shielding case a core surrounded by a coil winding, a monitoring passage formed through said core and adapted to be closed in the energised condition of said coil winding by a rigid valve member responsive to the magnetic pull, this electromagnetic valve being characterised in that the aforesaid monitoring core passage is connected to a variable-volume chamber of which one wall consists of a flexible valve member adapted to seal a fluid flow orifice, said variable-volume chamber being connected to said pressure fluid supply duct.
 2. Electromagnetic valve according to claim 1, characterised in that said flexible valve member has formed therethrough an axial passage for connecting said supply duct to said variable-volume chamber.
 3. Electromagnetic valve according to claim 1, characterised in that said rigid valve member comprises two ball valves, that is, a ball of relatively small diameter and another ball valve of relatively large diameter, the minor ball being adapted to stop the monitoring passage of said core under the thrust of said major ball, said major ball consisting of magnetic material.
 4. Electromagnetic valve according to claim 1, characterised in that said flexible valve member carries a solid or hollow rod supporting in turn at its outer end a ball adapted to stop the orifice communicating said supply duct to an outlet duct when said flexible valve member is in its open position.
 5. ElEctromagnetic valve according to claim 4, characterised in that said rod is solid and that a duct disposed externally of the valve structure connects said variable-volume chamber to said supply duct.
 6. Electromagnetic valve according to claim 4, characterised in that said rod is hollow, extends through said flexible valve member and comprises a lateral orifice for connecting the supply duct to said variable-volume chamber. 